Medical advances in sperm preservation has advanced over the years with sperm still being viable after several years. It is not just the anonymous donor making a deposit at a sperm bank for money, but males preserving their sperm before serving in the military or before getting cancer treatments. They want to preserve their sperm in the event they become infertile or in some cases die. Often if they are in a serious relationship they leave specific instructions on who takes ownership of the specimen and who specifically can be artificially inseminated. However, not all preserved sperm has prior consent for the retrieval, storage and specific usage of the frozen specimen. There have been some cases of what is called post mortem sperm retrieval.
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It is assumed that someone in a long term relationship or married would want children mostly, because it is the father’s legacy being carried forward specifically the “last name”. It also is the natural progression of the American dream to get married, to get a home and to have children. Additionally, it is an individuals fundamental right to procreate. For the wife, using post mortem sperm retrieval, allows her to procreate. This not only fulfills her fundamental right to procreate but also fulfills their dreams as a couple to have a child. Additionally, the child enables her to build a social life very similar to that of a married couple with children. The social life produces lasting relationships that are created, enhanced and solidified by the presence of the couple’s child. Even though she is legally a single mom, she really is not. She is a widow with a child. However as wonderful as it seems that the female in the relationship should be able to request and get the sperm of their loved one for future use, it is always not that easy and not always carried out. This happens mainly because of the several legal and ethical issues to consider when carrying out the request for post mortem sperm retrieval. The three biggest issues …show more content…
This is not an option for the child who is a product of post mortem sperm retrieval. The welfare of the child is just one reason why post mortem sperm retrieval should not be allowed. Additionally, respectful treatment of the body and consent for the retrieval is two other reasons why post mortem sperm retrieval should not be done. Alive the male has the option of whether or not to have children. He is an active partner where in post mortem sperm retrieval he is often inactive because written consent is missing. His story is rewritten without his consent. It deprives him the ability to partake and portray a very important event in his life; the birth and raising of his child. This violates the social rule for the male as it is the parent’s duty to care for his or her child. Post mortem sperm retrieval is also disrespectful to the treatment of the body. Although it may be considered a so called organ donation, it is not at all alike. In organ donation, it is using an organ to save the life of another. In post mortem sperm retrieval, it is using an organ to create a new life. It is just not part of our culture, it does not follow that natural or ordinary way of creating life. It is actually disturbing to think that our gametes will be used to create another viable human being after our
It is assumed that someone in a long term relationship or married would want children mostly, because it is the father’s legacy being carried forward specifically the “last name”. It also is the natural progression of the American dream to get married, to get a home and to have children. Additionally, it is an individuals fundamental right to procreate. For the wife, using post mortem sperm retrieval, allows her to procreate. This not only fulfills her fundamental right to procreate but also fulfills their dreams as a couple to have a child. Additionally, the child enables her to build a social life very similar to that of a married couple with children. The social life produces lasting relationships that are created, enhanced and solidified by the presence of the couple’s child. Even though she is legally a single mom, she really is not. She is a widow with a child. However as wonderful as it seems that the female in the relationship should be able to request and get the sperm of their loved one for future use, it is always not that easy and not always carried out. This happens mainly because of the several legal and ethical issues to consider when carrying out the request for post mortem sperm retrieval. The three biggest issues …show more content…
This is not an option for the child who is a product of post mortem sperm retrieval. The welfare of the child is just one reason why post mortem sperm retrieval should not be allowed. Additionally, respectful treatment of the body and consent for the retrieval is two other reasons why post mortem sperm retrieval should not be done. Alive the male has the option of whether or not to have children. He is an active partner where in post mortem sperm retrieval he is often inactive because written consent is missing. His story is rewritten without his consent. It deprives him the ability to partake and portray a very important event in his life; the birth and raising of his child. This violates the social rule for the male as it is the parent’s duty to care for his or her child. Post mortem sperm retrieval is also disrespectful to the treatment of the body. Although it may be considered a so called organ donation, it is not at all alike. In organ donation, it is using an organ to save the life of another. In post mortem sperm retrieval, it is using an organ to create a new life. It is just not part of our culture, it does not follow that natural or ordinary way of creating life. It is actually disturbing to think that our gametes will be used to create another viable human being after our